Why Manchester Utd could fall at the final hurdle

Tuesday’s Daily Mail ran with some intriguing facts and myths about the brain – not the big issues, such as why their readers have such difficulty with the concept of people from Africa and Eastern Europe or the residents of council estates – but “fun” facts, such as “Exercise helps keep your brain fit.” Were this true, Premier League footballers would be amongst the nation’s most mentally agile, yet any post-match interview culled at random from the thousands performed each season would demonstrate that this is patently not so. However, as the season reaches its dramatic climax – one chair, two arses, music stops Sunday – mental toughness has become the key theme of pre-game chatter. Chelsea have “the momentum”, whereas United have to go and play in a potato field at Wigan. John Terry says Chelsea have “a steely determination”, whereas the Guardian believes Alex Ferguson will be “frowning”. The fact that at this late stage Chelsea are still pressed up against United like a sex-pest commuter must be driving the reds mad with irritation.